“You should have said yes,” Jason screams out in the background.
Violet laughs. “That’s three against one, girlfriend, and no, this isn’t about us, it’s about you and Gavin. You know we always have your best interests at heart, and well, if you’re going to dust off the ‘beaver-can’t do’ and turn it into a ‘beaver-can do’ why not do it with God’s gift to women himself.”
“Hey, I thought I was God’s gift to women,” Jason yells.
“You’re God’s gift to me, baby.” My heart squeezes as I listen to them. That’s what I want. Right there. Couples who tease, laugh and have fun together. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t envious. I’m just too damn afraid of getting hurt, of watching another man walk out of Gavin’s life—out of mine. Although Devon didn’t walk out. I kicked him out. Too bad I hadn’t done it before he drank and gambled my inheritance away, getting physically abusive when I told him it was over. He walked out the door, taking my dreams of running my own business within the next couple of years right along with him. At least he didn’t leave with my head.
“You know his reputation, right? Would he really be a good influence on Gavin?”
I want Gavin to grow up respecting women, not sleeping his way through the alphabet. As Violet tries to convince me that he’s a player on and off the ice, but that doesn’t mean he’s not good with kids, and I could use a no-commitment ‘beaver can-do’ banging, my mind drifts. Liam might have been checking me out, and hell, I was checking him out too, but he seemed so different than he’s portrayed in the papers. Then again, I’m not a good judge of character, right?
Violet sighs into the phone. “Just tell me you’ll think about it.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Okay, I’ll stop by after dinner to pick up my tater tot.”
I end the call, and get to work on cooking, all the while trying to keep my mind off a guy who is suddenly living rent free in my head. I feed the boys, and after Violet picks Holden up, I give Gavin a bath and tuck him into his bed.
“Night, kiddo.”
I’m about to turn the light off and shut his door when his soft, tired little voice stops me.
“Mommy.”
“Yeah?”
“How come I don’t have a daddy like Holden does?”
My heart squeezes in my too tight chest, and I take a gulping breath. Sooner or later, I knew he was going to ask the question. Perhaps being at the Big Brothers organization really brought it home for him. I hover at the door and look at Gavin’s innocent face. After losing his grandparents at the young age of one, and having two men leave his life, he deserves stability, someone who’s going to put him first. But I’m so goddamn scared to get back out there. Honestly, I’m not even sure there are any good guys left.
Redirecting the conversation, I say, “Well, you’re going to get a big brother soon. That’s pretty exciting, isn’t it?”
He holds his hands up and crosses his fingers. “I really hope it’s Liam.”
“I know you do, kiddo.”
“Maybe someday he could be my daddy.”
I groan inwardly, and really wish I wasn’t thinking about him being my ‘big’ daddy, too.
3
Liam
I race up the steps to the Big Brothers organization and pull open the heavy door, anxious to meet the child I matched with. As soon as I enter the empty reception area, Harper’s citrusy scent curls around me. Either it’s my imagination, or she’s back in the building with Gavin. I’m going with the former, considering I haven’t been able to get her out of my head since meeting her, and yeah, maybe I did have a date with the palm twins last night. So what if I chose that over hitting the club and picking up a woman? I’m not supposed to be doing that anymore, yet I’m not one-hundred percent sure that’s what kept me home last night.
“Hi Rita,” I say, and she gives me a big smile. For a second I think about asking her for Harper’s contact information, but like I said before, I’m not a creeper, and that somehow seems like I’d be crossing a line.
“Liam, so nice to see you again.” She stands and waves me to follow. “Come on in and meet your little brother. We’ll give you time to talk and play, and if you and the child’s mother feel like it’s a good fit, we go from there.”
“Sure thing.” I adjust my ballcap and follow her down the hall. She’s all giddy when she opens the door and waves her hand for me to enter. I step through the door, take one look at the boy on the floor playing with the toy cars, and a wide smile spreads across my face. It dissolves just as quickly when I hear Harper’s sharp intake of breath.
“Liam, are you my big brother?” Gavin asks, as he jumps to his feet, his big smile wrapping around my heart and squeezing.
“Ah…” I say and glance at Harper.
“My wish came true, Mommy. Last night I crossed both fingers and wished really hard.”
“Gavin,” I begin, not sure how I’m going to break the kid’s heart, but Harper made it clear I wasn’t the man for her son. “I don’t think—”
“He doesn’t think he could be happier,” Harper says, interrupting me. My gaze flies to hers, and I take in her bunched forehead, the tightness in her lips.
“You’re happy you got me?” Gavin asks, like he’s not used to anyone wanting him, and it damn near breaks my heart.
Harper turns from me, and smiles as she talks to her son. “Of course, he is, Gavin. Getting you as a little brother is the best thing that could happen to anyone.”
His smile
